Solar Powered laptop

[phaxmohdem]

So the news article about Honda mass producing Solar Panels in 07 got me thinking.. Why haven't we seen a laptop yet where the top of the lid is actually a solar panel, or some sort or photovoltaic compound, to assist in powering the unit while operational, and charge the battery when its not in use?

I would definately look into purchasing one of those bad boyz. A solar panel that size, and the required power circuitry would not really add too much to the cost of the laptop, (Maybe 100-200 bucks at the most) Whats stopping companies/modders from doing this?

 

[piasabird]

They make portable solar panels for this kind of thing but it is hard to get sunlight in your apartment of office cubicle. They cold make rechargers that you plug into your Car Cigarette lighter so you can charge you laptop on the way home.

They sell solar panels for in wallmar that can charge an RV Battery.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Yeah I've seen the portable "Briefcase style" panels on eBay and around the web, but I think it would be possible to just make the top of the casing Solar. I mean if you're in your cubicle, odds are your plugged into the wall anyway, and even if your not, there is enough ambient light to help a little bit even indoors... I dunno, just a thought.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Yeah I've seen the portable "Briefcase style" panels on eBay and around the web, but I think it would be possible to just make the top of the casing Solar. I mean if you're in your cubicle, odds are your plugged into the wall anyway, and even if your not, there is enough ambient light to help a little bit even indoors... I dunno, just a thought.

The lid top placement would be quite fragile and make mobility questionable. Also the added weight would probably be a non-starter. A removable panel is much more useful - i.e., if you are out in the boonies, you can put it on top of the car to collect "rays."

 

[Gibson486]

Already exist, but they are not in Mass Production. If youlive near Dedham, Ma, go to thsi place called You do it. Theyhave a bunch of new solar cell products that work for many applications.